Ghost Rules from 1985 Finally Buried in Mining Regs Cleanup

2025-21443 — Rescission of Fee Rates

The Office of Surface Mining is officially wiping away old coal fee rates that covered 2012 to 2021 because they’re outdated. New fee rates have been in place since October 1, 2021, and this rule makes it official starting January 27, 2026—unless folks speak up by December 29, 2025. This change mainly affects coal producers and keeps the fee system fresh and fair for years to come.

2026-06197 — Backfilling and Grading

The Office of Surface Mining is officially removing an old rule about how quickly mining sites must be backfilled and graded, a rule that’s been on the books but never really used since 1992. After checking public feedback, they found no big issues and confirmed the rule change will take effect on March 30, 2026. This update affects mining companies by giving them clearer, simpler guidelines without extra deadlines or costs.

2025-21791 — West Virginia Regulatory Program

The Office of Surface Mining has approved some updates to West Virginia’s rules for coal mining permits, focusing on bonding, topsoil care, and land cleanup. These changes affect mining companies renewing permits or managing inactive sites and start on January 2, 2026. The updates aim to keep mining safer and cleaner without adding big costs or delays.

2025-21782 — West Virginia Regulatory Program

The Office of Surface Mining gave West Virginia’s coal mining rules a thumbs-up with some tweaks! They approved most changes, gave a cautious nod to a few, and said no to one. These updates kick in January 2, 2026, affecting coal miners and regulators, keeping mining safer and cleaner without extra costs.

2025-14720 — Montana Regulatory Program

Montana wants to update its mining rules to let companies use smart predictions and monitoring data when asking for bond releases, and to keep some bond money if certain pollution issues pop up. These changes come after a new state law passed in 2025 and could affect mining companies and the environment. The public can comment or ask for a hearing before the updates take effect.

2025-11907 — Pennsylvania Regulatory Program

The Office of Surface Mining is updating Pennsylvania’s coal mining rules to fix past issues and meet new federal requirements. These changes affect coal miners and regulators by tightening water pollution limits, clarifying mining activity rules, and adjusting penalties. The updates aim to keep mining safe and fair, with no big cost surprises, and they’re rolling out soon.

Previous: 2026-01569 — Backfilling and Grading

The Office of Surface Mining is delaying a rule that would officially remove an old, unused mining backfilling and grading regulation. This delay gives them more time to review public comments and decide if changes are needed. Mining companies and regulators should watch for updates by March 30, 2026, before the rule takes effect.

Next: 2026-01622 — Rescission of Portions of Permanent Program Performance Standards Regulating Subsidence Controls for Underground Mines

Starting January 27, 2026, the government is removing some old rules that automatically blamed underground mines for damage to nearby homes. This change affects underground mining companies and homeowners near mines by making it fairer to prove if mining caused any damage. No big costs or delays are expected, and the rule is moving forward after a quick review.